These Are the Photos Your Dating Profile Absolutely Must Have, According to Matchmakers

Most online dating sites only give you a small one-inch square for your main profile picture to lure people onto your page, which is why the perfect headshot is your best option for racking up clicks, likes, and messages.

Nowadays, most people think of selfies when they hear the word "headshots," but the weird angles often distort your face. (Here are some other mind-blowing facts about selfies you should know.) For the best headshot results, swap out the selfie stick for a best friend or professional photographer to snap the picture for you. The formula for the most desirable headshot is quite simple: look straight into the camera with a nice smile, stand under natural light, style your hair nicely, a groomed face for men and a minimal, natural make-up look for women (that is if you wear make-up), and a simple background like a brick wall.

“Everyone wants someone who is approachable and smiling is the cheapest way to do that,” says Maria Avgitidis, CEO and head matchmaker at Agave Match in New York City. “Looking into the camera shows your ready to go and the eyes are the window into your soul.” Your picture should look like your best friend took it because you don’t want a photo that looks like you're posing at a cheesy mall portrait studio.

As for picture faux pas, sunglasses, baseball hats, and a stone cold face don't make you look mysterious. If anything, they make you look hard and unapproachable with a hidden agenda. (Check out these 17 signs that you're actually the toxic one in the relationship.) “These profiles are one-dimensional,” says Michelle Frankel, founder of NYCity Matchmaking in New York. “No one is finding a reason to go out with someone when they look at other people. But they are finding a reason not to go out with someone.”

Don’t be afraid to use the headshot as an opportunity to embrace who you are. If you have curly hair, let those ringlets run wild or if you wear glasses, throw them on for your picture. A little bit of acceptance and self-love can go a long way in finding true love. (These are the 8 things you should never post about your relationship on Facebook.)